12 of Canada’s Most Unusual Hotels

By MIMI SZETO

Soule Creek Lodge in Port Renfrew, BC (Photo: TJ Watt)

These twelve unique hotels, from icy igloos to luxury yurts, range from the strange and adventurous to the fabulously one-of-a-kind and luxurious. For travellers seeking fun, nontraditional romance, the most remote of nature retreats or get-away-from-it-all relaxation, any of these hotels will earn ultimate bragging rights back home.

<small>QUEBEC CITY, QUEBEC</small><br /> <br /> Sculpted from 500 tons of ice and 15,000 tons of snow, the breathtaking <a href="http://www.hoteldeglace-canada.com/" target="_blank">Hôtel de Glace</a> located near Old Quebec is the only ice hotel in North America. Warm up in the outdoor hot tub and sauna, then spend the night on a bed made of ice. Sounds a bit too cold for comfort? Opt for a Premium Deluxe Theme suite with a fireplace and private spa.

<small>QUALICUM BEACH, BRITISH COLUMBIA</small><br /> <br /> Stay in one of three <a href="http://www.freespiritspheres.com" target="_blank">handcrafted spheres</a> nestled in a Pacific rainforest on Vancouver Island and suspended from treetops more than three metres from the ground. The spheres—dubbed Eve, Eryn and Melody—all have built-in speakers to play music with true surround sound. It's a perfect retreat for any adult (guests must be 16 or older) who always wanted a tree house as a kid.

<small>EDMONTON, ALBERTA</small><br /> <br /> If vacationing in a shopping mall isn’t unusual enough, book a theme room at <a href="http://fantasylandhotel.com" target="_blank">Fantasyland Hotel</a> inside the West Edmonton Mall to sleep in a catamaran boat, giant Roman-style round bed, a Wild West wagon or the back seat of a truck. Luxury theme rooms come with four-person Jacuzzis and some have bunk beds for the kids.

<small>TORONTO, ONTARIO</small><br /> <br /> In Toronto’s vibrant and hip Queen West neighbourhood, the <a href="http://www.gladstonehotel.com" target="_blank">Gladstone Hotel</a> offers an impressive 37 artist-designed rooms and suites. The creative styling of each room, from the heavenly flight316.ca room to the quirky Teen Queen room (pictured), is worth the checking out. In the evenings, head down to the popular Melody Bar on the first floor for drinks and karaoke night.

<small>BARNARD HARBOUR, BRITISH COLUMBIA</small><br /> <br /> <a href="http://www.kingpacificlodge.com" target="_blank">King Pacific Lodge</a> attracts adventure travellers who arrive by float plane to get to this one-of-a-kind floating luxury eco hotel and resort on British Columbia’s Prince Royal Island. While the lodge has typical guest rooms, the tranquil waters, rich forestry and mountain landscape of the Great Bear Rainforest make for an exciting wilderness escape.

<small>TORONTO, ONTARIO</small><br /> <br /> It’s a boat. It’s a hotel. It’s a <a href="http://www.boatel.ca" target="_blank">boatel</a>. During the summer months, stay aboard this bed-and-breakfast on a private yacht docked on the Toronto Harbourfront near the CN Tower and Rogers Centre. Watch the sunrise over Lake Ontario on the deck before enjoying a breakfast prepared by hosts Diane and Ted Greene.

<small>DAWSON CITY, YUKON</small><br /> <br /> In the early 1940s, Margaret Vera Dorval, nicknamed “Bombay Peggy”, ran a brothel out of this house in Dawson City, Yukon. Fast forward to 2000, when the restored brothel opened as a <a href="http://www.bombaypeggys.com" target="_blank">Victorian inn</a> that pays homage to its naughty past with nine rooms, each with modest to cheeky antique furnishing and decor.

<small>PORT RENFREW, BRITISH COLUMBIA</small><br /> <br /> The yurts at <a href="http://www.soulecreeklodge.com" target="_blank">Soule Creek Lodge</a> on Vancouver Island have private decks to admire the natural west coast beauty. Lay on the king-size bed inside the Tatoosh yurt to absorb the spacious circular room with 14-foot ceilings. Then take a hike on the West Coast Trail or collect seashells at the nearby Botanical Beach.<br />

<small>GOLDEN, BRITISH COLUMBIA</small><br /> <br /> At the family-friendly <a href="http://www.goldenwoodlodge.com" target="_blank">Goldenwood Lodge</a> with views of the Canadian Rockies, you can stay in one of seven painted teepees, each with four to five beds, mosquito nets, a picnic table and a fire pit outside. Take the kids swimming, canoeing or birdwatching at this scenic retreat.

<small>OTTAWA, ONTARIO</small><br /> <br /> Formerly the Carleton County Gaol Jail, the <a href="http://www.hihostels.ca/OntarioEast/166/HI-Ottawa-Jail.hostel" target="_blank">HI-Ottawa Jail Hostel</a> is home to 20 cells on two floors for travellers who want to escape to prison. Guests, as did inmates before them, sleep on bunk beds and share washrooms outside the cells. Free breakfast and Wi-Fi make for a more comfortable stay. Visit the heritage centre on the 8th floor to view old artifacts and the untouched death row.

<small>CALGARY, ALBERTA</small><br /> <br /> As one of the 32 guests on the seven-days <a href="http://www.royalcanadianpacific.com" target="_blank">Royal Canadian Pacific</a> luxury rail tour through the picturesque Canadian Rockies on a vintage train, you’ll be sleeping in a restored car equipped with private en-suite washrooms, bathrobes, a safe and internal telephone. <br />